23-year-old Lotta-Maj Lahtinen was injured at the worst possible moment. Starting a professional career in Europe was postponed due to a nasty knee injury.
One of Finland’s most promising basketball players, a 23-year-old Lotta-Maj in Lahti a rare Christmas is behind us. He got to spend it for the first time in three years at home in Lappeenranta with his family.
– I got to draw a few cartoons and play board games. It was wonderful, Lahtinen tells Urheilu.
A happy family Christmas was especially welcome this year, because Lahtinen’s autumn has been unlucky in the field of basketball. Everything looked good in the summer when he had signed his first professional contract with Belgian club Kangoeroes Mechelen.
In the end, Lahtinen did not get to play a single league match for the club. The Euroleague games also remained a dream for the time being.
– I had time to play two training matches in Belgium. I don’t even remember any specific situation, but after the second game my knee was terribly sore.
When the pain did not ease in a couple of days, Lahtinen’s leg was examined.
– The spiral had finally torn, Lahtinen says.
Now, about two months later, the rehabilitation is going well in Finland. As a result of the injury, Lahtinen’s contract with Mechelen was terminated.
– At the moment, everything is going well in terms of rehabilitation. Everything is going according to plan, and we should be back on the field in a couple of months, says Lahtinen.
– The mental injury has been severe. You could say that it has been varied. I’ve had a few stress fractures when I was younger and I know that being injured is the worst when you can’t do what you love. You can do the most work with the spiritual side.
– I can’t wait to get back to Europe. I love to play basketball and I’m going to rehabilitate 100% to get back.
Lahtinen’s experience on European courts is still thin, but even in a short period the differences with American university basketball became clear.
– The game at university was physical and skillful, and I learned a lot there. But when I got to play in Belgium, I noticed that the game is faster and more professional. The European basket left a very positive taste.
Lahtinen says that so far he has not negotiated contracts with any team in the direction of the European leagues.
The focus is completely on rehabilitating the knee – and during the holidays also on holding music quizzes.
– I’m surprisingly good at it! It has to be a little easier and a little harder, so that everyone is sure to feel good. For experts, there must be a couple of more difficult ones. There are players in our family from 8 years old to 75 years old, so there must be something for everyone to know, says Lahtinen.
Sometimes easier, sometimes harder. It applies to music quizzes as well as basketball. Lotta-Maj Lahtinen, if anyone, knows that.